Chapter 18. Baiting the King
Sarah awoke to a Goblin standing over her bed staring down at her with drool on the side of its face. By the reaction of the creature, she was not sure which of them was more surprised. Both moved back from the other quickly. Sarah swung her arm and sent the Goblin flying out the door. Zoan looked in, smiled and said. "Ah, you're up."
Sarah sat up and brushed the hair back from her eyes while clutching the blanket to her chest, "Barely." She looked over at the Hobgoblin and asked. "What time is it?"
"As I understand the way you mortals tell time, it's just after eight." Zoan fingered his sword's hilt nervously. "I've a message for you from her royal highness….she's requesting you join her in the Queen's garden for breakfast."
"Requesting?" Sarah noted the tone in which the message was delivered.
"Strongly," He added.
Sarah sighed, "The boys?"
"Are up, dressed and eating an enormous amount of food." The Hobgoblin commented merrily. "Are you sure they don't possess any Goblin Blood?"
Sarah waved the protector out of her rooms, rose and stumbled to the bath room. It always amazed Sarah how different she'd feel after bathing and once she'd had time to clear her thoughts. She found fresh garments to wear in her belonging that had been delivered. Looking at the reflection in the mirror she had to smile. She was a guest of the Goblin King, and dressed as a Traveler's Bard. Zoan had arranged for the same guards that had escorted her down to the dinning hall to be the same to escort her to the Queen's Garden. Covered by her Bardic Shawl, Sarah went along with the escort.
In the Queen's garden the Little Ladies in Waiting were seated on benches and pillows strewn on the ground. The Princess' Pink Court was living up to its title; each of the pretty little maidens was dressed in different shades of pink. They were being served by Elfs who didn't look happy dressed in pin court garments and pale powder pink wings. Sarah worked at keeping a straight face as she jointed the Princess. "You sent for me Your Highness?" Sarah stood out like a sore thumb, dressed in greens and looking like she'd just come from gathering Heather in the Highlands, compared to the pretty Fae creatures in their gauzy gowns.
Princess Adrianna smiled sweetly at the girl. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here, Bard… won't you be seated here… with me?" She patted the vacant spot beside her.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Sarah took the seat and accepted the cup of pink tea that was pressed into her hands.
"Do you like cake?" The pretty girl asked.
"Not this early in the day." Sarah said smoothly, hoping not to offend. She took a sip of the tea. "This is very nice."
Adrianna placed her hands in her lap. "Bard, I've asked you here to request a favor." When she had Sarah's full attention she continued. "The ladies of my court are going to be going home for a few weeks…. There will be no activities here at court that needs them and they really should spend some time with their families before the season starts again." She placed a gentle hand on the Bard's arm. "I however would like you to be my companion during this time."
Sarah gulped down the tea. "What?"
"I would like you to be my companion." The Princess repeated as if proud of herself. The little ladies of the pink court were all nodding. "We've all agreed you are the perfect choice."
Sarah looked about at the faces of the little ladies in waiting. "Now, just a moment;" She placed her tea cup on the table they were seated near. "I'm not a Lady in Waiting." She stood up and motioned to her garments. "I'm a Bard… a Travelers' Bard!"
"Oh if that's all…" Adrianna stood up and began to raise her arm.
"Hold it!" Sarah barked at the girl who looked at her with wide shocked eyes. "Don't you even think about it!"
The hand fell back into the Princess' lap. "I was only going to give you a court gown… a nice fluffy court gown." She pouted.
"Been there, done that." Sarah snapped. "It didn't fit." The image of a sugary white gown and a crystal ballroom filled Sarah's thoughts. With them came the memory of a man who danced with her in his tender embrace, singing a love song to her and her alone. 'All that was missing was a kiss.' Sarah thought, as she looked at the Princess. "Besides, I don't look good in Pink."
Adrianna cocked her head to one side, smiled wistfully. "No, green is more your color." Her voice for a moment lost the breathy baby quality, "I still feel you would make an excellent companion."
Uncomfortable for an unfathomable reason, Sarah gulped. "Have you discussed this with His Majesty?"
"Discussed what?" A voice alerted them that the man was entering the garden. He looked down at the pink tea in disgust. "Good morning, Princess." He addressed his wife curtly.
Giving him her most winning smile Adrianna turned her face up to her husband. "Good Morning Jerikins…." Her voice was exuberant.
Ignoring her breech of etiquette, the King took a seat and looked at the young woman now standing and looking for an escape. "Good morning, Sarah. Did you sleep well?" His voice held a slight chill.
Sarah instantly felt her chin rise up, the old defiance rearing its head. "Yes, thank you."
"Darling," Adrianna interrupted what had the makings of a conflict. "I was just telling the Bard here that my ladies in waiting are preparing to go home to their families for a few weeks until the season starts again, and I was telling her I'd like her to be my companion until they return. Don't you think she'd make me a fine companion?"
Jareth looked at Sarah, standing with eyes begging him to help her. He looked at Adrianna, sweet, perfectly Fae Adrianna whom everyone loved, looking at him with her pretty baby face. "Yes, I think that would be fine." He saw Sarah's lower lip tremble in disappointment and he felt satisfaction. "You have my permission to serve the Princess for a time."
The words had hit her like a sledgehammer, permission to serve. Sarah looked at the King for a moment she thought of challenging his authority, but in her peripheral vision she saw the eyes of the Little Pink Court were on her. They looked at Sarah as if she should be happy, no make that thrilled to be chosen to serve. She looked at the King's face, smug and cold. He was waiting for her to decry his statement; he was looking for her to object. Sarah closed her eyes, blocking out the man who haunted her dreams. Blocking out the pretty Pink Princess and her little ladies in waiting, Slowly Sarah dropped into a poised charming curtsey; "As you wish."
Clapping her hands like a delighted child the Princess exclaimed excitedly. "Oh delightful! You may begin at once, you'll spend this day learning my routine and tomorrow you will begin your service."
Jareth's elation at humbling Sarah was short lived; the smugness was wiped from his face. He had not expected her to give in so easily, and he was suspicious of the mortal girl. "I shall leave you ladies to her education in court manners." He rose easily, leaving the mortal girl still on her knees in the genuflection. "My dear I will join you for the mid-day meal today." He strolled away.
Sarah kept her eyes lowered, trying to contain the sob that threatened to escape.
"You may rise now, Bard." Adrianna said gently. "You are most respectful."
Sarah didn't feel respectful, she felt murderous. Rising up she stood silently.
Adrianna patted the seat Sarah had vacated and when the mortal girl had again seated herself the princess passed her tea cup back to her. "I must say I was not expecting such wonderful manners from a mortal… we've all heard such awful stories about them…" She said breathily. "You must correct all those tales for us." She looked around at the little maidens who were now coming closer to look at the mortal girl up close. "We really know so little about your kind…In fact you and your brother may be the only mortals any of my court has ever seen."
Sarah looked at the girls gathering round her. "Really?"
The Princess nodded, "Not all of the Fae have the ability or the right to travel between the realms of Fae and Mortal."
"I see." Sarah said sipping her tea again. "Your Highness, I will be happy to serve you in any way that I can… but I also have two boys to look after."
The Princess giggled. "Don't be silly, Bard. The boys will be with a Hobgoblin protector who will see to their needs and their studies. That is the way of things here… you will of course take your evening meal with your boys… and then return to my side until I retire."
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Jareth had returned to his throne room, lounging in his throne he tapped his boot with the riding crop that always seemed to be present. He was frowning, deeply. Sarah had not reacted as he had expected. There had been no tantrum… no shouts of defiance, no hostilities. He could still see her descend in the graceful genuflection. Even though dressed in Travelers' garb the young woman was enticing… more than any Fae woman had ever been to his liking. He sighed; this was madness, keeping her so close. It was he as well as the girl who would suffer.
"Dreaming of a conquest?" a soft feminine voice interrupted his reverie. "Dare I hope that it's I you are thinking upon?"
Jareth lazily turned his face, the smile already replacing his consternation. "Rosalind." He motioned the red head closer, "How lovely to see you."
Rosalind was wearing a day dress, with daring décolletage, but then she excelled at the daring. When she walked there was a gentle sway to her hips that gave a promise, one she'd often kept. "I wanted to thank you personally for the lovely evening. It's been far too long since you've had a proper celebration in your palace."
The King was admiring her, much as most men did. Her joining him on the terrace last evening had been bold. Her letting her gown slip down to give him a glimpse of her exquisitely pleasing bosom had been more than bold, it was brazen. She was doing everything she could to make it clear she'd have no problem serving as his mistress. "You are most welcome… and you're right, it's far too long since I've opened the palace to celebrations. However all that is about to change."
"Oh?" She laid a hand on the ivory arm of his throne. "And may I ask what has brought about the change?"
"The return of my heir," He said with a smile.
"Ah yes, the mortal boy," Rosalind cooed.
Jareth swung his feet off the arm he'd been resting them on. "Come with me," He strode away with the Fae noble woman in his wake. He led her to a gallery overlooking a court yard where a fair haired boy played swords with a dark haired one. "Look and tell me what you see."
Placing her hands on the balustrade she gazed down, expecting to see two mortal boys at play. She blinked, and turned to face the King. "That is not a mortal child! That is a changeling!"
"Yes, he is." Jareth sighed. "You see now why I will be celebrating."
"How wonderful for you, my King." She placed a hand on his sleeve. "And does your sweet wife also celebrate?"
Looking at the hand Jareth considered his words carefully. "Of course she does."
Rosalind didn't remove her hand but rather slid it suggestively up the arm of the handsome King; "And the mortal girl? Does she also celebrate for you, Sire?"
"Rosalind, do you really think I concern myself in what she does or does not celebrate?" He wound an arm about the slender waist of the Fae woman. "She is but a subject, a servant in the house of the King."
"We all wish to serve the King." Rosalind said boldly.
"Some serve better than others, my dear." He led her away from the arch of the gallery they were standing in and toward the corridor they'd come from. "I think I should like for you to spend some time here at court, Rosie mine."
"As you wish, Sire;" She murmured contently.
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The hour was growing late, and Sarah could not believe how tired she was from doing almost nothing. She was happy to hear the sounds of the boys and Zoan as she approached the door of her suite of rooms. As she entered she saw there were changes in some of the room's setup. "Well, what's happened here?" Georgie and Toby came running to her, throwing little arms about her. She looked at the Hobgoblin who was smiling broadly.
"Lady Bard," He greeted her with true warmth and friendliness. "I took it upon myself to see to the changes needed for the Heir and his companion. This suite of rooms must also act as part of his classroom."
"I see." She looked at the sturdy furnishings and felt resigned. "And who will be teaching the heir and his companion?"
Zoan bowed. "Myself." He was feeling truly honored. "It is an honor to serve the King and his Heir."
"An honor," Sarah murmured feeling not quiet so honored her self.
The Hobgoblin said something in his tongue and the boys moved away from Sarah going back to their studies. "I've stared them on learning a few Goblin dialects." He explained as he extended a hand to the Bard, "Come, our words will be less intrusive to them over here." He led Sarah to an alcove and waited for her to be seated. "You seem a bit at odds, Lady Sarah."
Looking up at Zoan she sighed. "Jareth has ordered me to act as companion to his wife."
Zoan sat down across from the mortal who all his people spoke of, some with devotion, some with contempt. "I do not have the honor of addressing the King by his given name." He cautioned her.
Nodding she corrected herself, "Nor do I really…old habits die hard, Zoan. The King has ordered me to be companion to the Royal Princess while her ladies in waiting are away." She fidgeted with her fingers. "He told me yesterday that I'm nothing more than another subject… mortal, but a subject… The only reason he's allowed me to live here in the palace is he does not wish to upset Toby." She felt the tear she'd fought escape her eyes. "It doesn't matter if I'm upset…"
"You are a bit more than just a subject." Zoan interjected. "You are Sarah Williams, the champion of the Labyrinth. Having you in his palace is more than just a courtesy to his heir…it's a point of pride. A tribute if you will to your having defeated his Labyrinth and a mark of distinction that you are now under his authority." His words were cold and honest. "Having you act as servant to his bride is his way of showing the Fae world at large that you are now…"
"Vanquished," she conceded.
"I'm afraid so, Lady." He leaned forward. "Do you have any understanding of our world?"
"Not as much as I'm going to need." The girl rand fingers to her brow. "After my first encounter with the Goblin Realm, I went back and looked at the original fairy tales and folk lore." She confessed. "They differ greatly from the whitewashed sanitized tales that are told to children today."
"They were meant to be brutal and honest." Zoan said calmly. "In the original tales you get a more honest glimpse at the truth of the Fae realm. Your journey here the first time gave you a taste of the truth. Fae are often jealous and vengeful, Goblins are not always bad, and nothing is as it seems." He stood up. "You now belong to the King, Lady Bard. He can do with you as he pleases and no one can stop him. If he wishes to humiliate you by having you serve as a companion to his bride that is his prerogative. You are a subject, just as I…a Tribal Prince, am a subject."
Sarah looked up at the proud Hobgoblin. "You're a Prince?"
He nodded, "Among my clans, but I have sworn my oath to King Jareth… and I do not regret it. He is a good and powerful King… when he does not allow his heart and his pride to get in his way."
"Does he have a heart?" Sarah muttered.
Zoan softened his voice. "I saw him dancing once, in a crystal and ivory ballroom…yes, he has a heart… I also saw it broken."
Sarah sobbed. "I had to …. I didn't want to…."
Towering over her, the Hobgoblin took a firm stance. "Just as you had to then, you must now accept the reality of the situation. You are no longer free…you are a subject of the Goblin King."
Sarah stood up; swallowed back her tears and fears. "I am a subject to the Goblin King."
A hand extended toward her. "You must be hungry… those silly women eat nothing substantial … come… the meal is being laid out." He led Sarah back toward the area set aside for meals in the suite of rooms. "Take heart, Lady Sarah. Serving the Pink Princess is not too difficult."
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The following morning, Sarah arose to a cloudless day. She stretched and left the comfort of her dreams. Once she'd bathed, she slipped into a robe and returned to her bedroom. She opened her armoire expecting to find her travelers' garments where she'd hung them. What she found instead were simple day dresses in linen. They were in shades of green and raw linen, and she knew they would fit perfectly. A note in the armoire from the Princess explained that she'd prefer for Sarah to wear garments more appropriate to one who served a Princess, than one who was on the road.
Sarah took out a sage colored dress, held it to her and had to admit that the Princess had good taste. The dress complemented the delectate coloring and features that was uniquely Sarah. She took time to braid her long tresses, allowing a few tendrils to frame her face. When she entered the main room of the suite, she found the boys eating. "Good morning." She said as she reached for her Bardic shawl. She looked at it and then at Zoan. "Is this allowed?"
"You are a Bard." He nodded. "Your title has not been rescinded."
"Does the Princess have her breakfast in the Queen's garden every morning?" Sarah headed toward the door.
"No, only on occasion," Zoan went to the door with her. "This is your escort," he told her as the four Hobgoblins marched forward. "They will conduct you to Her Highness."
"Thank you, Prince Zoan." She said addressing him formally with respect.
Zoan watched her being escorted away, and drew a troubled breath. This was one mortal he would be only too happy to have closer contact with. He wondered if his King truly appreciated the woman that was now an unwilling but yielding and submissive. He vowed to himself to seek to know just how submissive the King intended this mortal to be. If it were true that the King had lost his taste for the mortal, he would then seek her for himself.
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Adrianna was just coming into the breakfast room when Sarah's escort arrived. "Ah good, you're on time… I like promptness… I get crabby if I don't eat on time." She was followed by her hovering maid Ona.
Sarah gave a quick bobbed genuflection to the Princess; she'd spent hours pouring over a few texts that Zoan had pilfered for her. "Good morning, Your Highness."
The Princess in a pink linen day dress looked at Sarah, "Oh my yes, I was quite right Regency is definitely one style you are most lovely in." She looked at her maid in triumph. "I told you the mortal girl would be lovely."
Sarah blushed, "Thank you, I think."
Adrianna took a seat at the table, "Don't stand on ceremony, Sarah, be seated." She rang a little pink bell and the servants entered with breakfast. "I think you'll find today's fair more to your liking."
A servant placed a silver covered plate before each of the young women, when Adrianna's lid was lifted off it revealed a plate of lovely fluffy scrambled eggs. Sarah's lid was lifted and the eggs on her plate were decidedly not nearly a fluffy, in fact they were runny and a bit smelly.
Adrianna frowned. "Who did this?" She snapped at the servant. "Who dares insult my companion?"
The Elf servant girl cowered. "But Madam…. Do you know who she is?"
Sarah heard the hate and the anger in the voice of the Elf girl. In the eyes of the Fae races she was a disgrace, and she pushed the plate away. "I'm not very hungry, Your Highness." She had not expected the disdain of the servants to sting so much. And she could not control the quiver in her voice.
Adrianna saw the response to the hateful deed of the staff, and she was moved. "How dare you, how dare any of you insult my companion!" She stomped her foot and slammed a hand down to the table, bringing Ona to her side.
The Elf looked truly confused and upset. "Madam, we were trying to protect you."
The Pink Princess glared at the servant. "Take this away…" She flung the plate to the floor. "I will not have my companion treated in this manner."
Slowly Sarah rose from her seat. "This is not going to work, Your Highness. I'm seen as a … criminal in most Fae eyes… Thank you for the offer, but I must decline." She fled the room before her tears spilled and she made a fool of herself.
Adrianna dismissed the Elf and looked at Ona. "Tell me I was wrong."
The old Fae shook her head. "No, you were right."
The Pink Princess looked sadly in the direction that the mortal had fled. "Poor dear."
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Sarah found the suite of rooms empty, and she ran though as if her soul were being chased by the devil. Flinging herself on her bed she let the tears flow.
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Jareth with Gandar tagging along, entered the breakfast room, he narrowly missed stepping on the platter of eggs that now were spread on the floor. He grabbed Gandar preventing him from walking into the mess. "What happened here?"
Adrianna looked at her husband with bitter tears. "This is the way your servants treat my companion…" She sobbed.
Jareth crossed the room to console his wife, "What do you mean?" He wiped her tears and patted her.
"I invite her to breakfast with me, and they serve her this abomination… and worse… they thought I would approve of such behavior." She sobbed, "Hateful Elves."
Gandar pressed fingers to his nose, the stench from the eggs was pungent to a Fae, he could imagine how it had been when uncovered to a mortal.
Jareth flicked his wrist and the mess vanished. "Adrianna… you have to… understand…"
"No." She stood up and stomped her foot. "No I don't! I don't have to and I won't." She began to wail. "They chased off my Sarah! Hateful Elves…."
Jareth watched as the little Princess worked herself up into a full blown fit. He pulled her back into his arms and soothed her. "I'll punish the Elves who did this and it will be made clear such actions are not tolerated by you or I."
The Princess wept in her husband's embrace, "And Sarah? Will you please get her to come back?"
"Yes." Jareth sighed. "If you truly wish her company, you shall have it."
Though the tears and face hidden in her husband's chest the little Princess wore a triumphant smile, "Yes, I truly want her company." She looked up at Jareth with pleading eyes that masked her triumph. "Go get her for me."
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Sarah lay on the bed, her face buried in the stack of pillows, weeping bitter tears. She could not blame them, not really. Still that didn't make it hurt any less. They were only reacting in defense of their King and his honor, she told herself. Still it didn't take the sting and anguish from her. They had plotted to embarrass her the night before. The cloth that remained from the gown that had been shredded into a rag had been very fine. Finer than anything Sarah had ever owned. She wished she could have seen the dress that the King had wanted her to wear. She wondered what it had been like. It was so far in design from the Sugar Plum Fairy thing he'd given her to wear to the Ball. But she never got a chance; they had stolen that from her, just as she'd stolen victory from Jareth in the puzzle room of stairs.
Tears fell and she could not control them. Daddy was gone, and Tony her employer, and now even Toby was not really hers any more. She'd lost everything, except her life. What Karen had not taken, the killers had. The only thing that had saved her and the boys was the gift long ago given by a smitten Sovereign. 'What no one knew was this; the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl and had given her certain powers.'
Jareth expected to find Sarah in her rooms pitching one of the fits he'd witnessed when she was younger. He was not expecting to find her crumpled on the bed, nor did he expect to find her weeping. It made him feel strange seeing her like this. He didn't find it exhilarating, nor funny. Instead he felt a need to protect her. He sat down on the bed beside her, she turned and looked at him with her tear stained face. His arms opened and without hesitation she accepted the offered comfort. His hands held her gently as he soothed and comforted her.
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Adrianna held a small crystal orb, watching the image of her husband comforting Sarah. She watched with sad and understanding eyes.
"That's rather like being a peeping Tom." A voice said.
Adrianna, startled, dropped the orb that shattered into a million fragments of dust. "Princess Breanna, I didn't hear you enter."
The King's mother looked at the Princess in Pink. "You were too busy looking at my son and Sarah." Her words were said gently. "Perhaps you would like to tell me why you sent him to comfort her."
"How do you know…. I mean…." The girl stammered.
"I'm not a fool child," Breanna said firmly. "Don't take me for one, simply because I've not called you on your actions."
Adrianna looked about, franticly, and then rushed over to the King's mother. "I need your help…."
"My help?" The High King's daughter smiled, "To do what?"
The Pink Princess dropped the act of being childish. "To get my husband to accept the bait I'm dangling before him!"
Breanna looked at the younger face, smiled and whispered. "Fascinating."